Several months have passed since we defeated the Magatsu Emperor and won the war against the Empire.
The survivors of the Elysion Octa, the Empire’s top executives—Dibahha and Hazel—have gathered the remaining imperial forces and established the Neo-Magatsu Empire. They have now begun their invasion of the Western Continent.
Their plan appears to be to use this as a new base and eventually embark on a conquest of the world, just as the former Empire did.
To prevent this, I was ordered by the Queen to lead all units of the Slayer to the Western Continent.
This will be my first battle as the Supreme Commander—.
A vast forest stretched out beneath me.
I was confronting two mages in mid-air.
All other members were on standby on the ground.
I could see Claire and the members of the Third Squad looking up at me.
To reassure them, I gave them a smile.
While going out to face them alone as the Supreme Commander might be a terribly bad tactic—.
“As expected, you have come out to meet us, Abel-san.”
Dibahha, a mage wearing a clown mask, spoke.
He was one of the Elysion Octa, skilled in spatial manipulation.
No, now he’s one of the top figures of the Neo-Magatsu Empire, rather than just one of the Elysion Octa.
“Even without His Majesty, as long as we are alive—the Magatsu Empire is immortal.”
“That’s right. As long as Dibahha and I are here.”
And the other top figure was a small boy standing beside Dibahha.
His face, beautiful enough to be mistaken for a girl, was now burning with fighting spirit and—hatred.
“We will defeat you and rebuild the Empire. And this time, the world will be ours.”
“After all this peace, there’s no way I’m letting you start another world conquest war.”
I replied with a scowl.
The Neo-Magatsu Empire was a significantly weakened remnant compared to the former Empire.
However, the mages of the Empire were all powerful individuals capable of fighting hundreds, so I couldn’t let my guard down.
I have to nip the sprouts of conflict in the bud.
To continue protecting a peaceful world.
To continue living happily and laughing with Claire and the others.
I will stop those who try to destroy such ordinary and common happiness.
“Are you intending to fight us both alone?”
Dibahha chuckled, swaying his body.
Beside him, Hazel snorted.
“We’ve trained and gained strength since then. Even you won’t be able to—”
“Messiah Rod, Mode Two—Break Edge!”
Ignoring their preamble, I raised my dedicated staff, the Messiah Rod.
Transforming it into a sword, I swung it with all my might.
“Magic Power Maximum Acceleration—Photon Blade!”
No holding back, a full-power strike from the start.
“Tch…”
Dibahha distorted space, narrowly dodging my attack.
A massive explosion occurred far above us.
“This power…! Even though we’ve gotten stronger—”
Hazel looked at me with a pale face.
It seems their plan went awry.
…Right, they weren’t the only ones training.
I haven’t neglected my magic training even after the war ended.
My magic power control and output have increased since before.
“I overcame the battle against the Magatsu Emperor. You guys mean nothing to me now.”
I stated coldly, holding up my staff, which now spewed a blade of light from its tip.
I will crush them in one go—.
If I defeat the two in front of me, the rest will be just a disorganized mob.
I should be able to sweep them away in no time.
After all, the reason I faced them alone was to avoid a chaotic free-for-all.
I gambled that if I showed up myself, they would put their strongest, Dibahha and Hazel, on the front lines.
If I defeat them quickly, my entire force can then sweep through the rest.
—Or so I thought, but they weren’t so easily defeated.
“We won’t be defeated that easily.”
“Dibahha, I’ll support you. This is a retreat.”
Dibahha used his spatial magic, and Hazel amplified its effects with buff magic, allowing them to evade.
—In the end, I couldn’t finish them off.
However, I managed to drive them away almost single-handedly, and the remaining mages were also forced to retreat.
The various units of the Slayer picked off the fleeing mages one by one, and the battle ended in our decisive victory.
This was also my first battle as Supreme Commander, and I was relieved that we managed to repel the enemy with almost no casualties.
It’s a shame I couldn’t capture the enemy leaders, Dibahha and Hazel…
But that’s something I’ll have to settle eventually.
At any rate, after about two weeks of fighting, we returned triumphant to the Royal Capital Gloria.
After the victory parade, I returned to the Knight Order headquarters.
“We’re finally back, Abel… oh, Supreme Commander.”
“Just Abel is fine.”
I smiled at Claire, who was beside me.
We had plans to have dinner together later.
Incidentally, tomorrow it would be Racine, and the day after that, Lil—and so on, I was scheduled to have meals with all the members of the Third Squad on a rotating basis.
Since I hadn’t had any private time due to the war, this was my way of making up for it.
When Claire and I entered the office for the Supreme Commander, a girl was waiting there.
“You are—”
Golden hair in pigtails and blue eyes.
And pointed ears, indicating she was an Elf.
She stood only up to my waist and wore a grass-green robe.
“It’s been a while, Abel.”
The girl with a mature tone, unbefitting her delicate beauty, spoke with a smile.
“Origa…?!”
I stood there, stunned.
How had she gotten in, bypassing the strict security?
She may look like a mere child, but she is an Elder of the Elves.
A mighty high elf who has lived for thousands of years and possesses magic far beyond that of humans—.
I myself had experienced her power to its fullest before.
By the way, she is also Lil’s foster mother.
In fact, the reason she appeared before me previously was related to Lil.
“Elf Elder…?”
Claire looked bewildered.
Well, she certainly didn’t look like an “Elder” from her appearance.
“She’s someone with immense magical power, so don’t anger her, Claire.”
I whispered to Claire, glancing at Origa.
Perhaps sensing the tension, Claire swallowed hard.
“Y-yes, I understand.”
She looks like a loli-hag, but when I fought her before, I was pushed to the brink.
From her demeanor, she didn’t seem to be here to challenge me, but…
“Who are you calling a loli-hag? Besides, I didn’t come here to fight.”
She glared at me.
This loli-hag—no, Elder Origa always has a knack for chiming in with her retorts exactly when I’m thinking them.
“By the way, who is this young lady?”
Origa shifted her gaze to Claire.
“Judging by her aura, she’s not just a colleague, is she?”
“Well, yes…”
I blushed involuntarily.
“Surely she’s not someone you have feelings for?”
Origa turned her gaze back to me.
“Ugh…”
I was intimidated by her piercing gaze.
“Even though you have Lil.”
“Uh, well, that’s—”
“Well, infidelity is a man’s prerogative, and if Lil is your main girl and this young lady is just for fun, then I won’t complain.”
“…Oh? So I’m just a plaything, Abel?”
Claire’s face twisted like it was about to snap.
“N-no! That’s not it! I mean, Claire, and Lil… um…”
This is bad, I’m stammering.
“Hmm, Lil must have quite a handful.”
Origa sighed deeply.
“So, Origa, why are you in the Human Realm?”
I tried to change the subject to salvage the atmosphere.
“Indeed. I came to see if my dear Lil is doing well.”
Origa replied.
“The war with the Neo-Magatsu Empire may be over, but battles with its remnants continue—”
“Ah, we had a skirmish just the other day. However, they’ve been considerably weakened compared to the former Empire.”
“I’ve heard of your exploits. All of them. That you led the charge in defeating the previous Empire… Truly remarkable.”
Origa looked at me and Claire with a thoughtful expression.
“The Magatsu Emperor (Arc Enemy) knows the origin of this world. Even I couldn’t carelessly interfere with him—yet you and your companions defeated him. Well, that aside—I have something to discuss with you.”
“Discuss?”
“Could you spare me a moment?”
Interrupting me, Origa snapped her fingers.
“Nega-Phase.”
The surrounding scenery changed as if a television channel had been switched.
